Locking device for buckles.



PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

J. HQSPAULDING. LOOKING DEVICE FOR BUGKLES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.13, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR BUCKLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,798, dated July 26, 1904.

Application filed October 13, 1903.

. securing trunks and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which the tongue of the buckle may be held in contact with the buckleframe in such a manner as to prevent a strap engaging the tongue from becoming disengaged therefrom until said tongue is released in such a manner as to permit its free end to separate from the buckle-frame.

\Vith this and other objects in View the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a device constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the device, partly in section.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable casing 1, which is constructed, preferably, in a rectangular shape and of brass or other suitable material.

2 designates a rectangular frame, which may be bent from heavy wire and the sides of which extend entirely through the ends of the casing, projecting at the front and rear ends of the latter, so as to form loops, (designated, respectively, 3 and at.) The loop 3, which is located at what I shall term the front end of the casing, constitutes the buckle-loop. The front wall of the casing is provided with a slot or opening 5, at the sides of which are Serial No. 176,895. (No model.)

formed inturned lugs 6, perforated for the reception of a pin 7, upon which is pivotally mounted the tongue 8, the point of which normally rests upon the upper front end of the buckle-loop 3. The loop 1 at the rear end of the casing constitutes the means for the connection with the frame of one end of the strap 9.

Within the casing 1 are provided suitable guideways 10 for a slidable bolt 11,- the front end of which projects through an opening 12 in the front wall of the casing. The rear or inner end of said bolt is normally supported upon a pivoted latch 13, which is supported in an elevated position by means of a spring 1 1, said latch being provided with a beveled catch 15, adapted to engage a recess 16 inthe under side of the bolt, so as to retain the latter in a locked position when the said bolt is shot, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upper edge of the bolt is provided with a suitable recess inserted in the keyhole and turned in the direction of the arrow it will first depress the inner end of the bolt against the spring-supported latch 13, thus forcing the latter down- Wardly, so as to release the catch 15 from the notch 16. By the continued rotary movement of the key the bit of the latter is caused to engage the inner wall of the recess 17, thus drawing the bolt in an inward direction into the case and releasing its outer end from the upper side of the tongue 8, with which it has been previously in contact. It follows that when the bolt is in this position the tongue may be raised from the latch 3, with which the free end of the strap may then be passed into engagement in the usual manner. To disengage the strap, the key is turned in the direction opposite to the arrow. The bit of the key will engage the recess 17 of the bolt and force thelatter inan outward direction until the catch 15 clicks into the recess 16, thereby locking the buckle.

The latch 13, as shown in the drawings hereto annexed, is provided near its pivotal point with a hump 20, which receives the direct impact from or forms the direct support for the bolt 11, as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The general construction is simple and inexpensive. My improved device may be readily attached to any ordinary trunk-strap, whether made of leather or other material. The device may be made of different sizes adapted to be used in connection with large or small straps, such as used for carrying shawls and the like. The construction is extremely simple, and while I have in the foregoing described what 1 consider to be the preferred construction I do not thereby limit myself to the precise structural details herein shown, but reserve the right to any changes, alterations, and modifications which may be resorted to within the scope of my invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the utility of the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In, a device of the class described, a casing, a frame extending through said casing and forming loops at the front and rear ends of the same, and a tongue coacting with one of said loops to form a buckle.

2. In a device of the class described, a casing, a frame extending through said casing and forming loops at the front and rear ends thereof, a tongue coacting with one of said loops to constitute a buckle, and means for locking said tongue in contact with the loop or buckle-frame.

3. In a device of the class described, a casing, aframe, extendinglongitudinally through the same, a strap connected with one of the loops, thus formed, anda tongue coacting with the other loop to constitute a buckle.

L. In a device of the class described, a casing, a frame extending longitudinally through the same and forming loops at the front and rear ends thereof, a tongue coacting with one of said loops to constitute a buckle, a bolt slidable within the frame, extending through the front end of the latter and adapted to engage the upper side of the tongue to retain the latter in a depressed position, and means for operating said bolt.

5. In a device of the class described, a casing, a buckle-frame at the front end of said casing, a pivotally-mounted tongue coacting with said frame to constitute a buckle, a bolt slidable within the casing, projecting through the front end of the same and engaging the buckle-tongue, and a spring-supported latch supporting the inner rear end of said bolt.

6. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a buckle-frame at one end of the same, a tongue pivotally mounted in a slot of the casing and coacting with the frame to constitute a buckle, a bolt slidable within the casing, guides for the said bolt, a spring-supported latch engaging and supporting said bolt, and a beveled catch upon said latch adapted to engage a notch in the under side of the bolt.

7. In a device of the class described, a casing, a buckle-frame at one end of the same, a tongue mounted pivotally in a slot of the casing and coacting with the frame to constitute a buckle, a bolt slidable longitudinally within the casing, guides for said bolt, and a pivoted spring-supported latch having a catch engaging a recess in the under side of the bolt, and a hump supporting the under side of the latter.

8. In a device of the class described, a casing, a buckle-frame at one end of the same, a tongue pivotally mounted in a slot of the casing and coacting with the frame to constitute a buckle, a longitudinally-slidable bolt, and spring-actuated means for supporting and engaging said bolt.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. SPAULDING.

Witnesses:

J. B. BRIDGES, J. W. WHITLEY. 

